White rum is the backbone of so many incredible cocktails, and most of the rum serves as you can see from The Most Popular Rum Cocktails, so you want a bottle that’s totally dependent, versatile, and powerful enough to shine through the other ingredients.
Well, these are just that and more. Let’s waste no more time and get exploring our curated selection of top-notch white rums, starting with the best value picks out there.
£15-25
Merchant's Choice White Rum
This is an unaged Guyanese rum that’s crying out to be a reliable cocktail ingredient. Aromas of ripe banana, zesty lemon, and soothing vanilla invite exploration. Coconut, cacao nibs, grapefruit zest, and toffee tantalize the palate. Notes of cinnamon, almonds, and a hint of milk add depth. The finish features a touch of bitter grapefruit completing a hugely flavourful and varied sip. A versatile addition to your cocktail arsenal for sure, and plenty of those notes would suit a Piña Colada down to the ground.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £17.45
Bacardi Carta Blanca Rum
A globally recognized white rum, Bacardi Carta Blanca's presence graces backbars across the planet. Hailing from Cuba, the brand's origins are as unique as its bat-adorned labels. Crafted since 1862, it boasts a smooth, clean profile thanks to column distillation and charcoal filtering post-aging, THE latter of which it totally pioneered back in the day. Zippy lemon and pear drop notes are detectable on the nose, while the palate offers a little citrusy goodness but what you get with Bacardi is impeccable smoothness and a clean feel, something that is very useful for cocktails. Starring this in a Mai Tai really cannot go far wrong.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 37.5%
Find here: £19.90
El Dorado 3 Year Old White Rum
An award-winning gem, this rum secured silver at the 2006 and 2007 International Wine and Spirits Competitions, and a resounding Gold at the International Review of Spirits. Versatile and lively, it really shines in cocktails. As a Demerara rum, it embodies tradition in its crafting bringing alluring brown sugar notes as well as the fresh crispness you want from white rum. We love it. Honestly it could go into pretty much any cocktail, but a Pornstar Martini works very well indeed.
Size: UK 700ml/US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £23.99 / US $19.99
£25-£35
Takamaka Rum Blanc
Straight from the Seychelles, this white rum offers a delicate sweetness and crispness, making it ideal for cocktails and more specifically, the Daiquiri which has established somewhat of a reputation for. Notes of syrupy peach and sugary biscuits are subtle alongside spiced fruits before softly finishing with a touch of peppercorn. It really offers a lot more than so many white rums and whilst the flavours aren’t instantly in your face intense, they creep up on you in the best way possible.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 38%
Find here: £26.74
J Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum
Something different here, and something unforgettable. As hinted by the green and yellow label, this is an iconic Jamaican overproof rum, clocking it a seriously punchy 63%... and there’s no getting away from that. It’s unaged and pungent with herbal, grassy undertones but more noticeably the funk of overripe banana and pineapple. For adding rum oomph, it’s perfect for tiki cocktails like Mai Tais but for the experience alone, try it with a little coconut water and ice as it’s often enjoyed in Jamaica.
Size: UK 700ml/US 750ml
ABV: 63%
Find here: UK £29.45 / US $25.99
Hoolie Manx White Rum
Embrace the gusts of flavour with this delightful Isle of Man creation, aptly named after the local term for 'very windy'. Crafted from molasses, it's double-distilled in a wood-fired still and charcoal filtered, offering notes of sweet liquorice, biscuity butterscotch, and a zesty kick. It’s one that is really moreish on its own whilst also shining in classics like Mojitos, Daiquiris, and even a simple rum and coke. Could easily become a go-to, especially with the craftmanship and sustainability of the distillery Outlier. Oh, and if you want something stronger than the Hoolie…keep scrolling.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 41%
Find here: £34
Copalli White Rum
From Belize comes Copalli White Rum, an organic marvel that captures the essence of the region and in an environmental sustainability way too. Crafted from organic sugarcane, harvested, and crushed within hours, this pure gem is distilled using a unique blend of pot and column methods, and canopy water! Even better, the leftover sugar cane fuels the pot stills. The result is a smooth, crystal-clear rum with soft grassy notes, hints of lemon, and a refreshing minty undertone. Embrace the jungle's finest in a clean and fresh feeling Mojito.
Size: UK 700ml / US 750ml
ABV: 42%
Find here: £34.44/ $17.99
£35-45
Hurricane Overproof Manx Rum
Isle of Man distillery Outlier already gave us the Hoolie, but what’s stronger than just ‘very windy’… yes, a Hurricane. This powerful rum weaves a tale of double-distilled molasses, with a portion matured in Islay whisky casks, masterfully blended with the unaged brilliance of Hoolie white rum. A smoky intrigue awaits within, a touch of caramel and seaweed, with hints of vanilla, coconut, straw, and star anise. Remarkably smooth for an overproof, it's a force to be reckoned with in cocktails. Pair the Hurricane up with a Dark & Stormy for whirlwind of flavours.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 64%
Find here: £44
Prefer dark rums? Check out our best bottles to try this year right here!